Let’s Talk Abortion.

By Charlotte White

Abortion. Even the word itself tends to make people uncomfortable. Lately, the subject of abortion has been inescapable, with right leaning politicians using graphic details to fear monger the public and left leaning candidates relying on the word to deflect other issues. Both of these tactics are equally harmful, as they both avoid addressing the subject at its nucleus and finding a solution to the now infamous question, 

Should Abortion be legalized?

While it’s not a mystery where both myself and The Pink Folder stand politically, when talking about policies, those from both sides of the aisle should be able to consider all perspectives. 

An abortion is defined simply as a procedure to terminate a pregnancy. Despite there being many different ways of getting an abortion, many Republicans choose to harp on one, a surgical abortion. The process differs depending on how late in her pregnancy the patient is; however usually, the cervix is dilated and a vacuum suction is used to remove the embryo and excess tissue.

The procedure is a safe and medically supervised option for individuals facing complex and deeply personal decisions. In fact it’s reported that the overwhelming majority of physicians, nearly 80% agree with unrestricted access to all abortion procedures. By fixating on surgical abortion alone, many fail to acknowledge the broader context—such as medical abortions using prescribed medications, which account for a significant portion of cases, or the diverse and often urgent circumstances that lead someone to seek this care.

Right leaning critics argue that abortions are morally wrong, framing their claims on the fact that abortion is murder. First lets get the facts straight, at 14-15 weeks, the fetus can start to feel pain. Up untill then, their major organs are not developed enough to the point where they can process stimuli. It isn't 'immoral' if they can't feel the pain the Republicans preach about.

What is immoral, is forcing women and children to carry babies to term, preventing women from life saving medical care, and subjecting them to a life they aren't fit for.

It isn't worth living a life of suffering, bouncing house to house in the broken foster care system or dying alone in a box outside, just because your parent didn't want you or couldn't support you. I would argue that these scenarios are even worse because the baby has been birthed and started to form life experiences at that point.

Its better to live a life where you don't feel pain then to live a life knowing you weren't wanted.

People may choose abortion for a variety of reasons: financial instability, health complications, or a recognition that they are not ready to provide the emotional or physical support a child needs. These are not trivial matters, and the decision to terminate a pregnancy is rarely, if ever, made without considerable thought and emotional weight. 

Yet restrictive laws not only deny individuals the right to make choices suited to their unique lives, but they also drive many to unsafe and unregulated alternatives. History shows us that criminalizing abortion does not eliminate it; it simply makes it more dangerous. Legalizing abortion ensures that anyone facing this choice has access to safe and professional care, reducing the risks of physical harm while upholding their right to autonomy.

Rather than taking away the option for abortions, work on preventing unwanted pregnancies in the first place. Lowering the prices of birth control and condoms increases its accessibility to users and helps to avoid situations leading up to abortions. There are ways to help your citizens without taking away their rights to their own body.

Beyond the physical implications, legal access to abortion allows people the agency to decide their futures—whether that means continuing their education, pursuing a career, or safeguarding their mental and emotional well-being. To deny this choice is to deny a fundamental human right: the ability to control one’s body and determine the course of one’s own life.